*Lucy O'Donnell on her way to a very solid showing in the women's junior race at the World Cyclocross Championships in Switzerland (Photo: Toby Watson)*

Lucy O'Donnell and Roisin Lally put in very solid performances for Ireland in the junior race at the World Cyclocross Championships in Dübendorf, Switzerland, today.

O'Donnell, who was riding her second cyclocross Worlds, finished 26th of the 46-rider international field while Lally, making her debut at this level, was 43rd.

It was the first world championships race for junior women with the U18s who were selected by nations before now, including O'Donnell, riding the U23 race.

The Dutch continued their dominance of the discipline today by taking junior gold and silver with Shirin Van Anrooij and Puck Pieterse while American teenager Madigan Munro claimed the bronze.

*Roisin Lally fighting all the way in Switzerland at the Worlds today (Photo: Toby Watson)*

Van Anrooij (17) had already won the European and Dutch road race and TT titles and was 2nd in the TT at the World Road Championships last September in Yorkshire.

She went into today's contest as a clear favourite and did not disappoint; winning the world title by a significant 53 seconds in just over 38 minutes of racing.

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Lucy O'Donnell, who has been progressing so well in cyclocross and on the road in recent years and claimed bronze at the elite nationals last month, was 5:46 down on the winner.

On the finish line Roisin Lally, who has recently broken into the national set-up, was 11:19 down.

In the men's U23 race Irish elite champion David Conroy was Ireland's sole starter. He finished in 49th place, two laps down on Dutch winner Ryan Kamp.

*David Conroy was Ireland's only rider in the U23 race at the Worlds (Photo: Toby Watson)*

The new champion claimed victory from Kevin Kuhn (Switzerland) by 36 seconds with another Dutch rider, Mees Hendrikx, claiming bronze some 52 seconds down.

In the elite women’s race the Dutch took all three medals; Ceylin Del Carmen Alvarado (21) winning from Annemarie Worst and Lucinda Brand.

They fought a close race out front; all finishing within 10 seconds of each other, with 4th placed rider, American Katie Compton (41) one minute down.

Worlds Junior Women's Race

1 Shirin Van Anrooij (Netherlands) 38:34:00
2 Puck Pieterse (Netherlands) 0:00:53
3 Madigan Munro (United States Of America) 0:01:18
4 Millie Couzens (Great Britain) 0:01:43
5 Fem Van Empel (Netherlands) 0:02:12
6 Line Burquier (France)
7 Josie Nelson (Great Britain) 0:02:32
8 Lizzy Gunsalus (United States Of America) 0:02:47
9 Marie Schreiber (Luxembourg) 0:03:01
10 Julie De Wilde (Belgium) 0:03:20
11 Nicole Goldi (Switzerland) 0:03:25
12 Lauriane Duraffourg (France) 0:03:29
13 Clea Seidel (Germany) 0:03:42
14 Ilse Pluimers (Netherlands) 0:03:43
15 Anna Flynn (Great Britain) 0:03:50
16 Emilly Johnston (Canada) 0:03:59
17 Isa Nomden (Netherlands) 0:04:09
18 Sterre Vervloet (Belgium) 0:04:14
19 Carlotta Borello (Italy) 0:04:19
20 Nicole Pesse (Italy) 0:04:41
26 Lucy O'Donnell (Ireland) 0:05:46
43 Roisin Lally (Ireland) 0:11:19